It was not such an investigation as pleased Josiah, this going to and fro among the monsters which swayed back and forth under the pressure of steam as if about to explode, and being treated to frequent shower-baths from the leaking hose, or almost overturned as the busy firemen rushed past.
Even before Tom returned he persuaded Bob to go back to the court where they might at least be in a place of comparative safety.
During half an hour he remained gazing at the building which was supposed to be food for the flames, and then the din lessened.
One by one the heavy, noisy machines were drawn away, the serpent-like lengths of hose were rolled on the carriages, and when Tom announced that the fire was extinguished, Josiah was even more mystified than before.
“That’s the funniest kind of a fire I ever saw,” he said as they returned to their room, debating whether it would be best to retire once more, or dress themselves for the day’s pleasuring, for the shadows of night had already given way before the coming dawn. “At Berry’s Corner people have to carry water in buckets.”
“It ain’t very often you have a chance to see a fire in the city, ’cause the engines get to work so quick,” Bob explained; and then he told of a conflagration near the docks which he and Bob had seen, until by the time the story was finished Mrs. Bartlett called them to breakfast.
After the meal was brought to a close, Josiah wished to visit Chatham Square in the hope of seeing Sadie; but Tom and Bob decided against anything of the kind.
They had planned to spend this day in Central Park; and, despite Josiah’s desire to meet the girl who had been so kind to him, he was obliged to accompany his friends, or be guilty of rudeness by questioning their judgment in preparing a programme which was intended for his especial benefit.
“You see, it don’t look very nice to be runnin’ ’round with a girl, an’ the fellers will make all kind of fun of you,” Bob said in a fatherly tone. “Of course, if we’re anywhere near Chatham Square it’s no harm to go an’ talk with her; but this pullin’ Sadie along with us everywhere ain’t the right way at all. Things are different in the city, you know, from what they are in the country.”
“Yes, I know,” Josiah replied mildly; “but you see she was so awful good to me when I lost my way an’ was feelin’ bad, that it don’t seem as if I could do too much to square things up with her. It ain’t likely she gets a chance to go off on such times very often.”